DRAFT EDGAR XFDL Technical Specification (Version 7)

This DRAFT EDGAR XFDL Technical Specification (Version 7), posted before Commission approval of potential regulatory changes in this release, is provided as a service to our filing community to assist filers, agents, and software developers in their preparation of responses to potential changes the staff anticipates. Since this is a draft specification, the SEC retains the right to change any part of the specification before the new system release is made final. In addition, the final EDGAR XFDL Technical Specification is subject to Commission approval and may be revised before approval or not approved at all. Similarly, the posting of the DRAFT EDGAR XFDL Technical Specification (Version 7) does not indicate Commission approval of any pending proposed changes relating to the potential changes reflected in the draft specification. The changes outlined in this draft specification, if approved, are scheduled to take effect on or about December 15, 2008. The final version of the specification will be made available as and if approved by the Commission on or about December 31, 2008 on the SEC's Public Website.

The DRAFT EDGAR XFDL Technical Specification (Version 7) provides, to those filers that are interested, a basis for creating XFDL filings without the use of the EDGARLink tool. Changes to the DRAFT EDGAR XFDL Technical Specification (Version 7) are being made primarily to address updates to Submission Templates 1, 2, 3, and 5. These updates are based on SEC requests and rulemaking activities as implemented in EDGAR Release 9.14.

A summary of the changes are as follows (please refer to the appendices that appear in the XFDL specification for details):

Template 1

The new values, "FINRA" and "ARCA" have been added to the SROS popup box and are available for selection.

The descriptions of Items 2.04 and 5.02 for the following forms in EDGARLink Submission Template #3 has been updated to read "Triggering Events That Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement" and "Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers" respectively:
8-K, 8-K/A, 8-K12B, 8-K12B/A, 8-K12G3, 8-K12G3/A, 8-K15D5, 8-K15D5/A

Template 5

Exhibits EX-101.INS, EX-101.SCH, EX-101.REF, EX-101.LAB, EX-101.PRE, EX-101.CAL, EX-101.DEF have been added.
There are two components to the draft specification. The first is the specification itself, which contains details about the release, general instructions on the templates, general rules about the XFDL file being created, and specific rules on the XFDL nodes containing data elements. It also includes information regarding the content of the appendices and some sample documents. The appendices document gives specific requirements for each form type. You may download the DRAFT EDGAR XFDL Technical Specification (Version 7) by clicking the following links. To assist filers in the identification of the draft changes, redlined versions have been provided.